Laws, regulations, government decisions, public policy
US authorities are investigating suspicious oil trades placed ahead of Trump administration policy shifts on Iran, a source says. The probe suggests traders may have acted on advance knowledge of sanctions or diplomatic moves, which can cause sharp crude price swings. No charges or named subjects have been disclosed.
The US Senate rejected a fourth war powers resolution that would have limited President Trump's military authority over Iran. The vote, the first since Trump threatened to destroy Iranian civilisation, failed to build sufficient cross-party support, leaving executive war-making latitude intact. No near-term legislative
A Department of Homeland Security official has confirmed the US government shutdown is slowing security planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The disruption affects multi-agency coordination across federal law enforcement bodies responsible for threat assessment and venue security across multiple host cities. The durat
A Manhattan jury ruled Live Nation-Ticketmaster an illegal monopolist on three counts, including ticketing, amphitheaters, and unlawful tying of promotions to venues. The verdict opens the company to a potential forced breakup, a remedy the Biden DOJ originally sought but the Trump DOJ's separate settlement did not pur
The Gujarat High Court issued notices to Meta, X, and Google over a PIL seeking restrictions on AI misuse, citing government-reported non-compliance with lawful notices. The case adds judicial pressure on major tech platforms operating in India at a moment when the country lacks comprehensive AI-specific regulation. Fo
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is seeking unanimous consent Wednesday to pass the Direct File Act and restore the IRS free tax filing service shut down by the Trump administration. The bill's fate hinges on whether a single senator objects, either fast-tracking it to the House or stalling it in committee. IRS Direct File had re
A government-appointed panel will probe the assets of politicians and officials dating back to 2006. Political parties have backed an evidence-based process but cautioned against using the inquiry to selectively target opponents. The panel's terms of reference and enforcement powers have not yet been disclosed.
India's DCGI has reduced drug approval timelines by over 50%, with marketing authorizations now granted in under 150 days and clinical trial approvals in 120, 135 days. The regulator has also removed mandatory prior approval at the pre-clinical stage, lowering barriers for early drug development. Both changes are in eff
SEBI and India's Department of Telecommunications have signed an MoU to share real-time intelligence on securities market fraud via DoT's Digital Intelligence Platform. The agreement targets telecom-enabled investor scams by creating a formal cross-agency coordination mechanism. Enforcement effectiveness will depend on
Major US ad agencies have settled an FTC probe into alleged coordinated boycotts of media platforms carrying political content. The resolution signals the FTC's willingness to apply antitrust scrutiny to collective ad-spending decisions, raising compliance pressure across the industry.
Former MAGA allies are publicly breaking with Donald Trump in increasing numbers, signaling potential fractures in the coalition that has anchored Republican politics since 2015. Internal dissent of this scale shifts the incentive structure for GOP lawmakers, donors, and primary candidates. The 2026 midterm cycle will
The Islamabad Bar Association scheduled a general body meeting for April 21 after 400 lawyers demanded urgent hearings on sentence suspension pleas for Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha. The pair were sentenced to 17 combined years under PECA in January, and their appeals have stalled after the IHC dissolv
The RBI has removed prior-approval requirements for most NBFCs opening new branches, cutting regulatory lead time on geographic expansion. Deposit-taking NBFCs retain conditional rules based on net owned funds and credit ratings, preserving oversight where public deposits are involved.
Sebi and India's Department of Telecommunications signed an MoU to exchange real-time fraud intelligence via the Digital Intelligence Platform. The tie-up connects telecom-level signals, suspicious SIM use, bulk messaging, caller spoofing, directly to capital market surveillance, closing a gap exploited by digital securi
President Trump reiterated he takes no presidential salary, citing $1.6 million paid to Biden and $3.2 million to Obama over their respective terms. The claim omits that forgoing the $400,000 annual salary does not reduce broader taxpayer-funded presidential expenses. The assertion is likely to feature in ongoing White
Senators Klobuchar, Warren, and four colleagues are pressing a federal court to scrutinize the DOJ's proposed antitrust settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster under the Tunney Act. The move could delay settlement approval and force a more rigorous review of whether the consent decree adequately addresses the comp
The European Commission is weighing interim measures against Meta, alleging WhatsApp blocked competing AI services in potential breach of the Digital Markets Act. Interim measures could force immediate behavioral changes on Meta before a full investigation concludes. DMA violations carry fines of up to 10 percent of gl
Pune's FDA cancelled licences of 102 chemists and suspended 286 others across five districts between April 2025 and March 2026 under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Eight drug manufacturing units were also cancelled, with violations spanning prescription dispensing, pharmacist absence, and ayurvedic product adultera
A researcher denied a visa before leading an undergraduate field trip abroad managed the expedition remotely, relying on colleague support and digital tools. The account, published in Nature, exposes how a single visa refusal can disrupt months of fieldwork planning and student supervision. The case points to an unmet
The INDIA bloc is opposing the Delimitation Bill, with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge clarifying the opposition does not object to the Women's Reservation Bill itself. The conflict centers on a clause linking women's reservation to delimitation, which critics say delays implementation indefinitely. No census or deli